State’s highway maintenance facility will move to Rio Vista

Nola Sizemore|Daily EnterpriseBrian Cassim, a representative from the state highway resident engineer's office, requested 13 acres in Rio Vista, owned by the county, be transferred to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to build a new state highway garage. That request was approved.

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Nola Sizemore|Daily EnterpriseBrian Cassim, a representative from the state highway resident engineer's office, requested 13 acres in Rio Vista, owned by the county, be transferred to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to build a new state highway garage. That request was approved.

A proposal from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to move their state highway maintenance facility from Dayhoit to Rio Vista was discussed and approved at a recent special called meeting of the Harlan Fiscal Court.

Brian Cassim, a representative from the state highway resident engineer’s office, asked the court to transfer 13 acres from the old Whitfield farm tract owned by the county to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

“I look at this as a real win-win for the county and the state,” said Harlan County Judge-Executive Joe Grieshop. “If that doesn’t happen, chances are your old facility will go away and you’ll move on down the road to another county.”

Cassim said there was some discussion to move the facility to Bell County, but they have now decided not to make that move.

In a resolution approved and signed by members of the fiscal court and Grieshop, it says the “Harlan Fiscal Court waives any conflicts of interest, real or potential, for the transfer of lands for right of way purposes, of real property lying and being in Harlan County and owned by Harlan County. Having determined this transfer will benefit the citizens of Harlan County…”

The Transportation Cabinet agreed to accept the property and associated right-of-way for ownership and mutual use and benefit of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Transportation Cabinet, Department of Highways and the citizens of Harlan County.